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In a move that has sparked controversy among the tech and developer communities, Twitter appears to have cut off access to third-party apps such as Twitterrific and Tweetbot.
By blocking access to our APIs, Twitter limits our ability to provide alternative ways for developers to access our platform.
This change may affect users who rely on third-party apps for their daily Twitter content.
It’s unclear why Twitter changed its API access policy so drastically, but The Information reports that it’s no coincidence.
Erin Woo, a reporter for The Information, wrote:
“It’s been a day and a half since users started reporting issues with the app, and neither the official Twitter account nor the Twitter support account have explained the cause of the suspension, including whether it was intentional or accidental. No. Musk also did not comment on his Twitter account.
However, a senior software engineer said Thursday night in an internal Twitter command center Slack channel that employees use to handle Twitter service outages and disruptions, saying, “The suspension of third-party apps is intentional. When contacted by The Information on Saturday afternoon, the engineer declined to comment. “
No official notice has been provided to developers or users, but many speculate that the decision to restrict API access was motivated by a desire to increase revenue.
Third-party apps reduce Twitter’s advertising revenue. Forcing people to use the official Twitter app could increase ad impressions and make the platform more attractive to advertisers.
Additionally, by driving more users to the official app, it is likely that more subscriptions to Twitter Blue will be available that cannot be purchased through third-party apps.
Whatever the reasoning behind the decision, Twitter is damaging the relationship between developers and users alike.
You benefit from allowing third-party developers access to the Twitter API. This is because third-party developers can often create tools that are more efficient and easier to use than those available from Twitter itself.
Additionally, granting access to our APIs can help spark innovation and creativity within the industry, leading to more advanced technology and better services.
The fact that this change was made without notice has soured relations with developers, with some vowing not to continue working on the app if API access is restored.
Developer Craig Hockenberry Tweetwrote on his blog:
“What bothers me about the last day of Twitterrific is that it lacked dignity. No. We haven’t had the opportunity to thank our customers who have been with us for over 10 years…
I’m done personally. and vengeful. “
Developer Matteo Villa Phoenix for iOSsays they are considering removing their app from the App Store
I’m also honestly considering removing Fenix ​​for iOS from the App Store.
People are still downloading it, and no one knows if or when it will stop working.— Matteo Villa (@mttvll) January 15, 2023
Co-creator Paul Haddad tweet botwrote in a Mastodon post that it was working on “smaller but greener pastures.”
If you’re waiting for your favorite third-party Twitter app to come back online, I’m not sure it will.
A Twitter representative could not be reached for comment because Twitter has laid off its public relations and communications team.
Featured Image: Postmodern Studio / Shutterstock
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